Many professional clubs can tell you how disgusting the first round of the cup can be. Not least the Lilies after last August. The general conditions for the start of the cup are the same for almost all away teams year after year: high altitude against lower-class opponents who see the encounter as an absolute final. There's nothing to gain apart from getting ahead, but a lot to lose. The fact that this did not happen to SV 98 this year was due to early decisions and resilience. Next round – no more, but no less either. And yet progress should give you strength for the tasks ahead.
In the cup, the main goal was to advance. We've fulfilled that.
“As a higher-class club, you have to win the game – especially us after our start,” said Torsten Lieberknecht after the 3-1 away win against FC Teutonia 05 from the Ottensen district of Hamburg: “It’s good for the team to have won a competitive game .” His captain that afternoon was also “happy that we won and progressed,” said Clemens Riedel: “In the cup, the main goal was to progress. We’ve fulfilled that.”
He and his team controlled the game, especially in the first half, and created several promising chances. Two of them resulted in goals: on the one hand, in the 19th minute, Kai Klefisch fired a spectacular shot into the top corner via the underside of the bar. On the other hand, the busy, constant hustler, Luca Marseiler, could only be stopped in the penalty area by a foul. Teammate Fabian Nürnberger placed his spot kick into the bottom corner whilst the goalkeeper dived to the opposite corner.
“We could perhaps have made it 3-0 or even 4-0 earlier, but then we got into a short, small whirlwind after the break,” says Riedel, summarising the periods before and after the half-time break. “We have to act more calmly,” criticised the 21-year-old. The Teutons intercepted a misplaced pass after 49 minutes and scored the next goal after their first shot was saved. Lieberknecht: “We made a mistake in the second half to bring Teutonia back into this cup game. We lacked security there.”
Because Oscar Vilhelmsson made it 3-1 after around an hour, the home supporters also had to get used to the idea that a cup sensation would probably not happen that afternoon. And the loud Lily fans who had travelled along came to the realisation that there would finally be a successful return trip to Darmstadt. Even if the home team playing at the Millerntor didn’t give up until the final whistle. But we stuck to ourselves and carried on,” said Klefisch: “It was then important to restore the old gap with the 3:1 and thus stop Teutonia’s upswing.”
In the end, the text doesn’t have to be too pathetic at this point. The South Hessians have completed their mandatory task and completed their cup homework. An overall lacklustre but safe victory. Before future first round draws, August 14, 2023 is probably mentioned as a warning example. August 18, 2024, however, remains a footnote in Darmstadt Cup history. In the present, however, it just feels nice to have achieved success and to leave the weekend with a positive feeling. With relief that other teams have to drink from the cup of early cup elimination this weekend, but not their own. And looking forward to the coming week. The first task in the cup has been solved. Next task: collect something worthwhile next weekend.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
